The Chicago Bears rejected the option to extend quarterback Mitchell Trubisky’s contract for a fifth year, a person close to the situation said Saturday.
Thus, the quarterback would not be guaranteed to continue with the team for the 2021 campaign, said the source, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been publicly announced. NFL Network was the first outlet to break the news.
This decision is hardly surprising, considering Trubisky’s hardships in his third season since the Bears recruited him as the second overall pick in the draft. His yards (3,138), complete pass rate (63.2 percent), touchdowns (17) and passer rating (83) fell from the year before.
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General manager Ryan Pace practically bet his reputation on Trubisky, agreeing to a trade with the San Francisco 49ers to recruit him, before Patrick Mahomes was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs and Deshaun Watson landed with the Houston Texans.
Mahomes and Watson have become two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Trubisky, on the other hand, has given some promising glimpses, overshadowed by lousy decisions and passes.
His future in Chicago is uncertain.
The Bears were 8-8 and were absent from the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years the previous season, a year after being crowned in the North Division of the National Conference with a 12-4 record.
Although his defense continued to excel, the attack was among the worst in the NFL.
Chicago lacked players capable of making relevant plays to complement catcher Allen Robinson. The contribution of the tight ends was practically nil.
That last need would have been met in March, when the Bears hired Jimmy Graham, a five-time Pro Bowl pick, and in April, when they recruited Cole Kmet of Notre Dame in the second round of the draft.
